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Tourism Review

ISSN : 1660-5373

Article publication date: 26 April 2018

Issue publication date: 1 May 2018

This paper aims to expand the media-related tourism literature in a new domain of application by highlighting a connection between the world of video games and tourism.

Design/methodology/approach

Through deductive content analysis, this study looks at 137 online comments posted on popular gaming and travel websites that connect two popular video games (Assassin’s Creed II and Assassin’s Creed Unity) and travel motivation.

Results establish that video games share similar travel motivation elements with film and should be considered as a driver of tourism. It argues that destinations should consider video games as a platform for motivating tourists before they consider investing in virtual reality. It outlines opportunities for destinations interested in video game-induced tourism and calls for more research and case studies that link video games with destinations.

Originality/value

This is, to the authors’ knowledge, the first paper to investigate this connection. As such, it outlines untapped opportunities for destinations interested in video game-induced tourism and opens up a new line of research within media-related tourism literature.

• Video games
• Film-induced tourism
• Media-related tourism
• Travel motivations

Dubois, L.-E. and Gibbs, C. (2018), "Video game–induced tourism: a new frontier for destination marketers", Tourism Review , Vol. 73 No. 2, pp. 186-198. https://doi.org/10.1108/TR-07-2017-0115

Emerald Publishing Limited

Copyright © 2018, Emerald Publishing Limited

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The 6 best video game worlds for travel lovers

Nov 2, 2020 • 7 min read

Travel through video game worlds from your living room © Miguel Sanz / Getty Images

With a cruel combo of lockdowns and quarantines, it has been a challenging (stronger adjectives available) year to be a traveler. But there is one novel form of travel that has remained impervious to international restrictions – in fact you don’t even have to leave your home to enjoy it. We are talking, of course, about video games. (OK, stick with us here.)

Gone are the days where video games served as an art form exclusively for those with bad acne and good reflexes, and today, thanks to remarkable advancements in graphic capabilities and data storage, many games resemble vast, vibrant worlds that lie waiting to be explored, taking the form of the rolling plains of the American Wild West or the mesmeric depths of the ocean. Celebrity voice acting and orchestral soundtracks enhance the experience, and plot lines range from all-out action to a quiet afternoon tending to crops.

So whether you’re a first-time digital adventurer or seasoned cyber nomad, wave goodbye to reality for a while and take a trip to one of these wonderful digital worlds.

1. The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt

Winner of Game of the Year at the 2015 Golden Joystick Awards and widely considered one of the greatest video games of all time, the third instalment of the beloved Witcher series is as good an introduction to the world of modern gaming as you can get.

Based on the fantasy novels of Andrzej Sapkowski, the Witcher 3 sees players take control of Geralt of Rivia, a monster-hunter for hire, as he searches for his adoptive daughter Ciri. This quest will take players through the giant, war-torn land of The Continent, shuffling through the packed streets of grand cities, sailing to far-off islands and wading through thick swampland, all while occasionally downing tools for a quick round of Gwent (the frighteningly addictive in-game card game). Though its setting may be highly fantastical, the game has a very human story at its center, brought to life by a talented voice cast that includes Game of Thrones star Charles Dance.

Must-visit spot: Perched on a sheer mountaintop on the wintry Skellige Isles, the cloud-piercing black stone citadel of Kaer Trolde makes for an arresting sight. Its occupier, the jarl of Clan an Craite, throws a cracking banquet when there's cause to celebrate. Available for: PlayStation 4, Xbox One, Nintendo Switch, PC

2. World of Warcraft

A behemoth of the gaming industry, World of Warcraft played a leading role in shifting the perception of video games from puzzles to be completed to realms in which to exist. The game is the planet’s most popular MMORPG (Massive Multiplayer Online Role-Playing Game), which means the world in which it is set, Azeroth, is populated by avatars of real players (millions of them) as well as computerized characters.

The game starts off typically enough: players select a race for their avatar (Human; Dwarf; the ungodly human-panda hybrid Pandaren), and are introduced to the basic components of the game. But from here on out, what the player does is essentially up to them. Undertake quests, venture into forests and raid enemy strongholds or compete in weekly fishing contests (The Stranglethorn Fishing Extravaganza) and let loose at Azeroth’s annual beer festival, Brewfest (held each October, naturally). With 17 cities to visit and a map that takes over 12 hours to walk around, players won't run out of things to see.

Must-visit spot: Stormwind City is the largest and grandest human settlement in Azeroth. It’s dotted with temples, pretty parklands, characterful inns and imposing historical monuments, including a set of giant stone statues honoring heroes of the Alliance that fell during the campaign on the orcish homeworld of Draenor. Available for: PC

3. Stardew Valley

Who said you need fast-pace storylines and cutting-edge graphics to create an immersive world? Thanks to its charming, retro appearance and rewarding, easy-going gameplay, Stardew Valley has garnered a strong cult following since its release in 2016.

In the game, players take control of a character who is the beneficiary to a rundown family farm in the delightful backwater of Pelican Town, and are tasked with returning it to profit. Between planting crops and tending to livestock, players will have the opportunity to explore more and more of their surroundings, meeting the jovial townsfolk, attending various time-specific festivals (honoring both real-world holidays and in-game events, like the arrival of the fluorescent jellyfish) and even finding a partner to share your wholesome, salt-of-the-earth existence with. Unlike most of the games on this list, Stardew Valley can also be played on smartphones and tablets, making it a good choice for would-be gamers without consoles.

Must-visit spot: Pelican Town’s central beach is a great spot to kick back and relax, with an old wooden pier that is a popular spot for fishing. In the middle of winter, the night market takes place here, with merchant boats lining the sands. Available for: PlayStation 4, Xbox One, Nintendo Switch, PC, iOS, Android

4. Red Dead Redemption 2

If you spent your youth embroiled in imaginary gun battles with outlaws in the Old West, then Red Dead Redemption 2 will delight your inner child. The hotly-anticipated prequel to Sony’s Red Dead Redemption has become one of the best-selling games of all time, winning numerous awards in the process.

Set in the final days of the American Wild West, the game sees players slip into the spur-heeled boots of rugged outlaw Arthur Morgan, who must lead his gang of misfits through the perils of a rapidly modernizing (law-abiding) world in which they no longer belong. While the game’s plot, characters and gameplay all drew praise from critics, it’s the game’s setting and scenery that takes center stage, and to this end, there’s nothing more enjoyable than simply roaming freely through the wild, ever-changing landscapes atop your trusted mount, with the sense of serenity shattered only by the occasional bust-up with a rival gang or local sheriff.

Must-visit spot: The city of Saint Denis bears a striking resemblance to real-world New Orleans . It’s home to bars, boulevards, barber shops and the pretty Théâtre Râleur, which puts on daily performances incorporating acts of magic and fire dancing. Available for: PlayStation 4, Xbox One, PC

5. Beyond Blue

Travelers are drawn to diving for both the visuals and the meditative quality that comes with being underwater, and Beyond Blue attempts to replicate both without asking players to squeeze into a wetsuit.

Developed with the creators of BBC series Blue Planet II , the game centers around protagonist Mirai, a deep-sea researcher tracking and documenting various underwater species, while subsequently learning more about the devastating impact of human behaviour on our oceans, from deep-sea mining to pollution. But, worrying ecological premonitions aside, this is one of the most relaxing games ever made, with players able to glide seamlessly along the ocean floor to the placating tones of a synthy soundtrack. Though the thrill of swimming alongside a pod of blue whale is best enjoyed on a big screen, the game is also available for smart phones via the Apple Arcade, offering gaming on the go.

Must-visit spot: The shelf of active underwater volcanoes, glowing red in the darkness of the deep sea, makes for an impressive sight and serves as a reminder of the otherworldly landscape that exists at the bottom of our oceans. Available for: PlayStation 4, Xbox One, PC, iOS

6. No Man’s Sky

The perfect video game for anyone drawn to works of science fiction, the pioneering No Man’s Sky allows players to hop into a spaceship and journey into the cosmos, interacting with alien life forms and exploring new planets as they go.

The game opens with the protagonist waking up on an unknown, deserted world with no memory of how they got there, leaving the player to piece together the story while hopping from one weird and wonderful world to the next. Aside from its deep space setting, what makes No Man’s Sky unique is that if a player is the first to set foot on one of the in-game planets (and document its bright pink, five-legged native fauna, for example), then that discovery remains attributed to them indefinitely, with subsequent visitors (ie other players) to that world notified of the brave soul who discovered it – making the sense of exploration on offer feel authentic. What’s more, with over 18 quintillion planets in the game, the makers admit they don’t even know what lurks on the surface of some in-game worlds.

Must-visit spot: Throughout the game, a cosmic force draws the player to the very centre of the game’s universe; what resides there? You’ll have to find out for yourself. Available for: PlayStation 4, Xbox One, PC

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The Top 10 Cities for Video Game Tourismz

There are plenty of places all around the world that are great for tourists with games on the mind. These are the ones you have to visit.

It used to be something that only those weirdos in the chess club did with a map and a handful of funny looking dice. Today, the Gamer now holds a hallowed place in the realm of popular culture, right next to the Movie Trivia Expert and the Cosplayer. The following cities are great for all kinds of geek culture since video games often host characters from movies, books, and television, including characters from real life and urban legends. Each city was chosen based on it's connections to gaming culture, which means the quality of the internet and how accessible it is, plenty of e-Sports events and tournaments, and a wide variety of places to shop when you need gear.

RELATED: 10 Famous Places That Inspired Incredible Movies

10 Tokyo, Japan

There's a friendly gaming culture throughout Tokyo, but this ambiance is especially concentrated in Akihabara Electric Town. This is where the gaming and anime culture of the city is concentrated, with plenty of shopping, cosplay and themed places to hang out based on video games. The neighborhood is mostly made up of internet cafes set up with the latest hardware and software, even more than the rest of town. Tokyo ranks 9th in the world for overall internet speed. Put it all together and you have a great place not only to game but to relax and feel welcome.

RELATED: Tokyo Art Museum Teams Up With Pokémon To Celebrate Famous Artwork

9 Seoul, South Korea

Where e-Sports were born and MMOs thrive, South Korea corners the market when it comes to competitive gaming, affordable hardware, public internet access, and internet speeds. Seongnam, a suburb of Seoul centered on the electronics industry, is where most of the magic takes place. South Korea's gaming standards are set by the Korea e-Sports Association (KeSPA), which is also a part of the Korean Olympic Committee and the International e-Sports Federation. Fiber optic connections and the most cutting-edge tech available ensure that South Korea has both the best internet access and speeds on Earth. Relax in one of many upscale PC rooms for hours on end with your favorite game when you're not watching a tournament at the nearby stadium.

8 Seattle, United States

If you have to choose one city in the United States to visit on your gaming tour list, make it Seattle. Overall, this is where internet access is the most accessible and affordable in the country. The city also hosts a wide variety of gaming events and conventions, like the Retro Gaming Expo and GeekGirlCon, along with several high-level eSports gatherings. This is also a great city for developers, engineers, coders, artists and others with career plans that involve gaming, with big names like Nintendo America, Microsoft and Valve using Seattle as a home base.

7 Stockholm, Sweden

Dreamhack, a festival that celebrates all things gaming, takes place in several cities but the gathering in Stockholm is the most famous. It's set the record for largest LAN party in the 1990s and still hosts the biggest LAN event and computer festival in the world. This city has a fiercely dedicated eSports and gaming community that makes it all happen. It also helps that the country is equipped with modern tech and internet access, giving Stockholm the 4th best in the world.

6 Sacramento, United States

It's hard to choose just one or two cities in California, the state where home computing originated and gaming flourished, but we have to give it to Sacramento. Not only does the city have a great gaming environment with some of the best internet speeds in the country, but it's also the home of the Computer History Museum. What started out as a demo in a retail store has grown to an impressive collection that goes back to 1975. A nice excuse for a gamer to stop gaming for a while and get to know computers better.

RELATED: 20 Of The Most Bizarre Spots In California Hidden Right Under Our Noses

5 Cologne, Germany

A relatively small city near the Fench and Dutch border, you might be surprised to see this entry on the list. Perhaps it's due to the location in central western Europe, which draws history enthusiasts and sports fans as well as gaming fanatics. The internet speeds here are stellar and readily available, and we're not sure if they came before the eSports craze hit Cologne or after. Nearby Frankfurt also has some notoriety in this category but Cologne has been hosting eSports tournaments and gaming conferences on a big scale since the early 2000s and is currently home to ESL One, Gamescom, and the Intel Extreme Masters Tournament.

RELATED: Cologne, Germany: Your Essential Weekend Itinerary

4 Zurich, Switzerland

Switzerland is a centrally-located country known more for communication than conflict. It's no wonder gamers would feel at home in its industrial heart, Zurich. The upscale tech also helps, although the prices here tend to be a bit steep the download and upload speeds make it worthwhile. It's also a great city for conferences and expos that lean towards new computing and gaming technology. In 2018, the city hosted the Ludicious Zürich Game Festival, which introduced gamers, developers, and students to new products, which includes a lot of game testing. The Zürich Game Show takes place every year in September and includes new games, eSports, and cosplay.

3 Los Angeles, California

One of the biggest, busiest and most impressive cities for any kind of media anywhere on the planet, this is the city to see if you're a gamer that likes to party. EA and Playstation both call LA home, and the roster of convention and festivals that take place here is nothing short of glorious. The Electronic Entertainment Expo (E3) and Blizzcon are just two famous examples. On top of that, no matter when you visit, there's always fast internet at good prices with plenty of internet cafes where you can connect.

2 Oslo, Norway

Right after Sweden for the fastest internet in Europe, it's all about access in Oslo, Norway. Speeds are fast and the tech is cutting edge, and you don't even need to bring your own computer. You can find one in one of many internet cafes or bars, and it's likely your hotel or hostel will also have a computer for public use. Oslo is a secret haven for gamers that has yet to be discovered, with cities in Sweden and Germany hosting the big tournaments. The multi-level Tilt Oslo entertainment center downtown is already turning into a popular place to worship all things gaming. Get some gaming done in Oslo before the crowds find out about it.

RELATED: 15 Reasons To Visit Norway (And 5 That Make Us Really Hesitant)

1 London, England

Ever been to a Meltdown? If you're a gamer, you have to visit London and check these popular bars out. They aren't the first eSports bars in the world, but the craze has caught on in England and London is the center of the action. Meltdown isn't alone, either. There are several other venues taking on the trend, and the result has been an exciting mix of gaming and British pub culture. The Red Bull Gaming Sphere, an expansive eSports and gaming studio that includes consoles, VR headsets and racing simulators, recently opened to rave game reviews.

NEXT: The Top 10 Cities for Movie Tourism

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To deeply reach target markets and attract more tourists, a variety of media have been leveraged by tourism destination marketing organizations, particularly video games become a brand-new approach for destination marketing. With Assassin ' s Creed : Unity as the research object, based on the Stimulus-Organism-Response (SOR) model, this article analyses and presents the influences of tourism destination factors in video games on the players' perception of tourism destination image and their intention to visit. In this case, a conceptual model has been built with game factors as the independent variable, tourism destination image as the mediating variable and the players' intention to visit as the dependent variable. Moreover, Multiple Regression is used in the analysis, proving significantly positive effects of game experience, character attachment, and tourism destination image on players' intention to visit. Consequently this study provides research support for the combination of tourism destination marketing and video games.

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Video game tourism: When gamers turn into tourists

Video games have become an integral part of media and an active form of entertainment for the masses. Though mostly virtual and make believe, the games are often based on a real-world tourist hotspot or famous monuments sparking interest in the hearts of players wanting to explore the tourist attraction for themselves. Over the years many destinations have been portrayed in video games and last year, Italy launched its own video game, Italy. Land of Wonders to target video gamers.

India Outbound curates a list of select destinations for the travellers out there who want to travel the world as Artyom did in Metro : 2033 completing his mission and travelling all across Russia.

Colosseum, Rome

Colosseum, largest amphitheatre is an integral part of the game Assassin’s Creed: Brotherhood

The Colosseum is an oval amphitheatre built under the Roman Empire by emperor Vespasian and was completed by his successor and heir Titus in 80 CE. The amphitheatre is located in the centre of Rome, just east of the Roman Forum. Despite being 2 millennium old, Colosseum continues to be the largest standing amphitheatre in the world.

Hence, it is little wonder that it finds a prominent place in video games. For instance, in Assassin’s Creed: Brotherhood, the main character Ezio Auditore da Firenze has to climb up the Colosseum and save one of his friends. Just as in the real world, the Colosseum in the game is quite mesmerising. Through the eyes of Auditore, one can roam the streets of Rome and enjoy the streets and culture set in the early 1500s.

Italy lets visitors enter the ground of the famed monument and experience the atmosphere and witness the point of view of an ordinary citizen of the Roman Empire watching the gladiators fighting after buying an entry ticket of EUR 16 (INR 1440) for adults. Gladiators were famed warriors who often faced animals, other gladiators and condemned criminals for the entertainment of people. They inspired a sense of admiration and love among the hearts of the audience and grasped a claim to fame in ancient times.

Notre Dame, Paris

Notre Dam one of the most famous cathedrals in France holds a significant value in tourism and spirituality as well as in the game Assassin’s Creed: Unity

Notre-Dame de Paris often referred to as simply Notre Dame is situated in the 4th arrondissement of Paris. It is a medieval Catholic Cathedral that has been attracting devotees and tourists alike. The Cathedral is dedicated to the Virgin Mary and displays fine Gothic architecture prevalent in France during 1163 when its construction began, under the supervision of Bishop Maurice de Sully and was largely completed by 1260. The cathedral has witnessed several key moments in French and European history, notably the French Revolution and the transition of France from monarchy to constitutional monarchy to democracy.

The coronation of Napoleon Bonaparte took place in this very Cathedral. In the game Assassin’s Creed: Unity, through the eyes of Arno Dorian, players experience the Church coming to life as the game is set in the year 1789 when the French revolution began. Unlike the cathedral cum museum, Notre Dame in the game is set according to the setting of the French Revolution when aggravation against churches was common.

The entry to the church is free however, there are two standing towers both 69 m offering a magnificent view of Paris. To enter the towers visitors, need to buy a ticket for EUR 8 (INR 720). Apart from the stunning view, tourists can also visit the bell tower, where the fabled Hunchback of Notre Dame lived and see the Cathedral’s multiple gargoyles. However, as the Cathedral doesn’t have an elevator, tourists will have to climb up 387 steep steps, situated in the North Tower (rue du Cloître) offering the only entrance to the two towers.

Lan Kwai Fong a key night life area in Hong Kong is famous for exquisite experience it has to offer to the travellers and is also featured in the game Sleeping Dogs

Hong Kong one of the special regions in the world in terms of culture and customs is an autonomous region, situated in south-east China. It is one of the most densely populated and developed cities in the world with one of the most expensive housings in the world. The city has a lot to offer to the people who are in search of exciting nightlife or fun.

In the open-world game, Sleeping Dogs players see modern-day Hong Kong through the eyes of Wei Shen, the main protagonist of the game. Like the beautiful alleys and shops of Hong Kong, the game also offers an authentic look and feel of the city. As Hong Kong is pretty in the night with various enchanting colours over the buildings owing to the bright neon lights, the game also offers a similar setting. In the game, the Central is based on Lan Kwai Fong, Hong Kong’s most quintessential nightlife area. Just as in the real world, Bank of China Tower is present in the game.

Tourists can very well enjoy the nightlife in the city. They can visit the rooftop bars offering some of the best views of the city. They can also be a part of the underground culture by visiting the clubs and bars littered around Lan Kwai Fong, which are open till early morning especially around weekends. The city also hosts mesmerising audio and visual show for the onlookers.

Reichstag, Berlin

Reichstag, the parliament building of Germany and a historical landmark is one of the key focus in the game Call of Duty: World at War

Reichstag in Berlin, Germany is a meeting place of the Bundestag or federal assembly, the lower house of Germany’s legislature. The building, one of the most important landmarks in the city, is situated at the northern end of Ebertstrasse and near the south bank of the Spree River. The building has been a symbol of authority since the reign of Hitler. In 1995, the building was wrapped in more than 90,000 square meters of silver fabric by the famed environmental sculptors Christo and Jeanne, after which the building became a centre of attention in the world of art.

In the game Call of Duty: World at War , the building is shown in the year 1942 when World War 2 was at its peak. The players can see the war-ridden country of Germany during the Second World War through the eyes of Sergeant Reznov and Sergeant Roebuck the two main protagonists fighting for their motherlands, USSR and Germany respectively. The inside of the building has been edited according to the setting of the era.

In the modern world, however, the general population can easily visit the monumental building and see the dome which offers one of the best views of the city during the night as well as the day. Tourists can easily visit the dome between 8 am to 12 pm and admission is free for everyone.

New York City

New York City, an hotshot destination for the tourists and the game Spider-man revolves around the city

New York City, the heart of American culture, is home to about 8.5 million people and is one of the most developed cities in the world. The city has a lot to offer. Over the years, the portrayal of the city in many Hollywood and Bollywood movies has contributed to its fame. Apart from it, people who love music and drama are attracted to the city as it hosts as many as 41 professional theatres with over 500 seats.

The tall skyscrapers perfectly defining the city’s architecture has been incorporated in the game Marvel’s Spider-Man, one of the most top-grossing games on Play Station 5. Players see the world through the eyes of Peter Parker aka Spiderman as he fights crime. The open-world game allows the player to have an authentic look and feel of New York City as one jumps, walks or run across the city. The game also offers an accurate depiction of the famed Brooklyn Bridge. Many missions revolve around the bridge offering the players a nice perspective of the landmark.

Times Square is particularly mesmerising at night with giant LED screens displaying content for the passers-by to see. The city also has to offer several eateries serving the famous New York-style pizza. Apart from this the city also hosts many bars where people can easily share a toast with their loved ones and enjoy. Over 50 million tourists visit New York every year, making it one of the most visited cities in the world.

Moscow Metro, Moscow

Moscow Metro, one of the most appreciated metro networks in the world for its beauty is the central focus of the game, Metro: 2033

The capital of Russia, Moscow has one of the most well connected, well laid and beautiful metro networks in the world. Apart from the famous Red Square, the metro system, in general, is a pleasure to the eye. Visitors rather than travelling through private cars or taxis travel through the metro just to experience the beauty the transport system and its stations have to offer.

In the game, Metro: 2033, the world is set in a postapocalyptical setting. The beauty of the metro system is unfortunately not well defined in the game. It, however, does give a sense of the vastness of the system. The game, through its creative art design and creative dialogues, attracts the player in its immersive gameplay. Even though the game is set in a post-apocalyptic world, the beauty of the city is not lost. From the snow-covered scenic routes to the greasy underground paths all are enchanting and beg the player to explore more.

Other than the beautiful transportation system, the city of Moscow offers a lot to visitors. The city boasts of Bolshoi Theatre, home to one of the oldest ballet and opera companies in the world. Lenin’s Mausoleum is one of the central attractions in the Red Square. It is the final resting place of the Soviet leader Vladimir Lenin, whose body has been resting in a central spot in Red Square since his death in 1942.

Chernobyl, Ukraine

Chernobyl, city infamous of one of the largest man-made nuclear disaster is an integral part of the game Call of Duty: Modern Warfare

One of the most saddening man-made disasters in the history of humankind which caused the overnight displacement of over a million people from the city of Pripyat is now a major attraction for tourists. People from all across the world are curious as to what the city looks like today after it had been abandoned in April 1986. Photos of the infamous amusement park of Pripyat still send a chill down the spine. Even 36 years after the explosion of the reactor, there are certain spots in the city which are considered to be radioactive.

In the game Call of Duty: Modern Warfare , the eeriness and a sense of fear have been captured beautifully. The abandoned city of Pripyat has been captured quite accurately by Activision, the developer of the game. Every nook and cranny of the city be it the Pripyat School or Azure pool, is portrayed quite accurately. The city is accessible to the player through the eyes of Lieutenant Price with his superior Captain MacMillan leading the way.

Tourists and scientists alike flock to the city to the site of Chernobyl and see how the disaster has been contained within a metal sarcophagus, since the release of the game and the popular TV series by HBO. Visitors bring their Geiger Counters with them which help them measure the residual radiation in the atmosphere. The control room is accessible to the common public where they can visualise how the impact of the disaster was felt moments after its occurrence.

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Home > ETD > 2467

Theses and Dissertations

Videogame tourism: spawning the digital into the physical realm in the british isles.

Heather Rebecca Brinkman , University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee

Date of Award

December 2020

Degree Type

Dissertation

Degree Name

Doctor of Philosophy

Anthropology

First Advisor

Second advisor.

Thomas M Malaby

Committee Members

Betina Arnold, Kalman Applbaum

British Isles, consoliday, Scotland, tourism, video game, videogame tourism

Video game tourism is in its infancy but growing in popularity. This dissertation is an anthropological study of gamers’ attempts to interact with the physical environments in Scotland that influenced the virtual landscapes to which they have an emotional connection. Seven of the locations I identified as potential field sites provided some form of ethnographic material. I traveled with gamers to these seven sites. While at these sites, I observed and interviewed people that I met as well as did participant observations with those I went with. This project was able to demonstrate that gamers and tourists alike attempt to reach toward an unencumbered self but this process is fraught with obligations and is typically unattainable. Whether those obligations or encumbrances are created before or during their travels, there is always an underlying sense of connectivity that makes a complete break from the sociocultural world impossible.Nostalgia is the driving force behind reenactments of precious memories so it is no wonder that gamers who feel a strong connection to their virtual worlds would attempt to recreate those memories through interactions with the physical landscape that shape their virtual worlds. This dissertation demonstrates that while setting out to reenact specific nostalgic moments is one of the motivations for gaming tourists, they have a cyclical relationship with nostalgia. Once they return from their physical journeys to the virtual environment, they are hit with another form of nostalgic reenactment. Gaming tourism is a new phenomenon that allows for gamers to give in to their nostalgic sentiments and recursively represent their identities as gamers in a more public fashion through recreating scenes from the game within the physical landscape.

Recommended Citation

Brinkman, Heather Rebecca, "Videogame Tourism: Spawning the Digital into the Physical Realm in the British Isles" (2020). Theses and Dissertations . 2467. https://dc.uwm.edu/etd/2467

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Confessions of a Video Game Tourist

Freelance journalist, video games blogger

Could our enjoyment of video games have something to do with our earliest, nomadic ancestors? In a sedentary civilization, games might be just what our vagrant souls need.

Our ancestors are within us. For roughly 200,000 years Homo sapiens roamed the planet, and it's easy to forget that we, as our even more remote relatives, are nomads by nature -- hunter-gatherers, wanderers, vagrants. It has only been a puny 8,000 years since our style of life has become sedentary, since the concept of "city" or even "village" appeared, since both the blessing and curse of "civilization" were realized. Man is -- both physically and mentally -- nomadic.

So vagrancy is in our genes. It's easy to deny that fact, trapped as we are in a present of cubicle office spaces, pension plans and real estate bubbles. But sometimes, rarely, it still surfaces in seasonal migrations, holiday spots, gap-year travelling, Sunday afternoon walks and RVs complete with satellite dishes. Here's another fact: Humans like to seek out the new, the spectacular, the awe-inspiring, the romantic ruins and the surge of adrenaline. Our bookstores are filled with travel guides, coffee-table books and reports from the most remote places. It's all food for our wanderlust, this itchy heritage from our nomadic ancestors.

Our bodies and minds have not changed as much as our circumstances in the past 8,000 years. And while we have grudgingly accepted that even today's cubicle-dweller has to sate his unruly body's need for exercise, for being used and kept "in shape," our inner nomad still hungers. We may pacify our vagrant body while staying in one place, as our civilization demands, but what about our nomad souls?

Games are many things: competition, entertainment, social spaces, meditation. But games are more than that: they are virtual spaces behind our screens, tailor-made to our mental need to wander without incurring any of real travel's dangers and annoyances. Games' virtual spaces allow us to roam farther than reality does -- especially now, that the tools made to free us from fixed office spaces and the need to be physically present also, paradoxically, take away the necessity to leave our screens. There is, after all, a reduction in our daily lives' radius; we're living in the age of the "great indoors."

It shouldn't surprise us that, in exchange, the virtual spaces around us are growing. Games let us decamp and set forth. And they take us to places that are as outlandish as our wildest fantasies: great underwater cities, showcasing madness and art deco, twisted death zones exhibiting the ruins of once-proud civilizations, megalomaniac architectures between Heaven and Hell.

Games give us places, spaces and whole continents to explore and wander. And all of them are here for us to sate our curiosity, to satisfy that ancient human need to see what's behind that hill, that mountain, that horizon. Why? For no other reason than the one the worlds's highest peak was conquered: "Because it's there."

Of course, some games facilitate this kind of video game tourism more than others. In some games -- Tetris, Counterstrike, Gran Turismo -- our actions are the be-all and end-all of the matter. Other games could be said to embrace the idea of virtual travel with all their heart -- Uncharted, Skyrim, Bioshock, Dear Esther, Limbo, Minecraft, Assassin's Creed, to name but a few -- and lure us ever deeper, promising whole worlds to be discovered only by us.

It's these moments of exploration, of discovery, of being a nomad between the cities of Dunwall and Rapture, of wandering the plains of Skyrim and Pripyat, of exploring Liberty City's back alleys and Far Cry's Rook Island, that make games worthwhile.

It's easy to overlook this accomplishment of the medium; after all, not all games deliver equally in this regard. Experiments like Journey and Dear Esther have elevated the metaphor of wandering in virtual worlds to be their defining, even slightly esoteric moments. But, of course, even more traditional games offer lots of room for virtual tourism. It has become almost a hollow phrase in game writing to state that sense of place, not gameplay or narration, is king in this or that game, but it's still true for a wide variety of today's titles.

It should come as no surprise that the desire to explore and wander these virtual spaces inevitably shows itself in another manifestation of modern tourism: We yearn to take something with us from the places we experience, and so we take pictures. A growing number of accomplished in-game photographers document their wanderings in artful screenshots and show us details most often overlooked by busy players who are just visiting for a game's thrills. In games, at least, virtual tourists leave nothing but digital footprints - and take nothing but pictures.

But wait: Games as substitute for real travels? That would be absurd. Reality, as frail as its edges are becoming, is still the great adventure of our lives. Anyone who has ever shivered in a tent in the Sottish highlands' summer, has seen the madness and glory of an Indian city or the sunrise over the Grand Canyon knows that reality and the virtual world are impossible to mistake for one another.

Our yearning for movement, for our ancestors' vagrant existence, can not be fully sated in virtual worlds, no matter how intricate. But still, games help us ease the burden of waiting for the joyful day when we turn off the monitor, tie our laces and head out again for real.

Games offer us spaces to explore and wander. By doing that, they give us an escape so desperately needed by our vagrant, nomadic souls trapped in a sedentary civilization. And that may just be their finest achievement.

This article is reprinted with the permission of Video Game Tourism. Click here for the original article.

Screenshot art by Midhras , Anthemios , PixieGirl4 , Josh Taylor (2x), top to bottom.

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Video games can have a positive impact on children—if designed with the right features, says new study

New research finds that digital games can contribute to the well-being of children, but game producers must design games to support positive outcomes.

Video games can contribute to and support the well-being of children if they are designed with the needs of children in mind, according to new research from UNICEF Innocenti and collaborating institutions, including New York University.

The report, the second in the Responsible Innovation in Technology for Children (RITEC) project, establishes that digital gaming companies and game designers can and should support the well-being of children through the games they produce and demonstrates that digital play has a particularly positive impact on children’s autonomy, competence, creativity, and identity when it responds to their deep interests, needs and desires. The project was co-founded by UNICEF and the LEGO Group and is funded by the LEGO Foundation.

NYU Steinhardt Professor Jan L. Plass led one of three studies appearing in the report. To understand the effect of digital play on children’s well-being, Plass and his colleagues implemented a 10-week intervention involving digital games including Lego Builder’s Journey and Rocket League with 255 children ages 8 through 12 years old. Among their findings, US children with a greater need for belonging relayed more positive feelings toward their social and parental relationships and an improved sense of autonomy. In Chile, children reported greater autonomy and improved parental relationships. In South Africa, the digital play generally supported well-being for all children.

“Many parents are concerned about screen time for their children, and this is the first study investigating the effect of digital play on well-being for this age group in the US, Chile, and South Africa,” said Plass, founding director of the Consortium for Research and Evaluation of Advanced Technology in Education (CREATE) Lab at NYU.

In addition to the experimental research led by Plass, observational research was conducted in the homes of 50 families over a 14-month period with children ages 6 through 12 in Australia, Cyprus, South Africa, and the UK. Lab-based research measured heart rate, eye tracking, facial expressions, and galvanic skin response (changes in sweat gland activity) of 69 children, ages 7 though 12, playing digital games in Australia.

The three studies found that games can support children’s senses of autonomy, competence, creativity, and identity, as well as help them regulate emotions and build relationships. But in order to support one or more of these aspects of well-being, games should consider certain features. For example, to support children’s sense of autonomy, a game could put them in control, allow them to make decisions about gameplay and encourage them to develop their own strategies to progress. Or to support creativity, a game could allow children to freely explore and solve problems or create their own characters or narratives.

“For decades, people have often assumed that playing video games is somehow bad for children, undermining their well-being. But our new study paints a far more complex picture—one in which these games can actually contribute to children’s well-being and positively support them as they grow up,” said Bo Viktor Nylund, director of UNICEF Innocenti.

Anna Rafferty, vice president of Digital Consumer Engagement, the LEGO Group, said: “This exciting research from UNICEF and leading academics shows that safe and inclusive digital play can have a profoundly positive impact on children’s lives. We’re proud to be partnering with like-minded organisations to understand how digital experiences can be designed in a way that puts children’s well-being first. These findings will empower responsible businesses to create a digital future where children are safe, nurtured and equipped to thrive.”

“The finding that digital play can enhance child well-being and meet children’s psychological needs, such as the need for connections to others, is especially important at a time when we are concerned about children’s mental health,” added Plass.

Said Nylund: “This research helps us understand not only how video games can impact the well-being of children, but also helps the producers and designers of these games understand what elements they can include to support children. We hope they will consider these findings as they design the games our children will be playing in the future.”

Also included in the RITEC project is the Joan Ganz Cooney Center; the Young & Resilient Research Centre at Western Sydney University; the Graduate Center, City University of New York; the University of Sheffield; and the Australian Centre of Excellence for the Digital Child.

The findings will be followed later this year by the launch of a guide to assist businesses to incorporate these findings into the games they design.

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Vegas tourism authority sponsoring each Aces player for $100K in 2024 and 2025; WNBA investigating.

The Las Vegas Convention and Visitors Authority is providing a $100,000 annual sponsorship to each Aces player for this season and 2025

LAS VEGAS -- The Las Vegas Convention and Visitors Authority is providing a $100,000 annual sponsorship to each Aces player for this season and 2025.

The WNBA is investigating whether the sponsorships are allowed.

This isn’t the Aces first run-in with the league over the last few years. Last year, the WNBA suspended Aces coach Becky Hammon for two games and took away the Aces’ 2025 first-round draft pick because the franchise violated league rules regarding impermissible player benefits and workplace policies.

The sponsorship does not violate the WNBA’s salary cap because the Las Vegas authority did not orchestrate it with the club. But other teams are likely to raise questions about the fairness of the sponsorship and whether it violates the spirit of the cap rules.

The authority posted a video on X of president and CEO Steve Hill telling the players in the locker room the news on Friday.

“The Aces have been on an historic run — two-time world champions,” Hill said on the video before informing the players. “We’re here to do something historic with them, too.”

The players were thrilled by the move.

“The city of Vegas I’ve always said, it’s a big small town and they just want the best for the people here,” point guard Chelsea Gray said before the Aces' home game Saturday against the Los Angeles Sparks. "They’re investing in us and so they put their money where their mouth is. We’ve done so much for the city and having fun doing it.

“It was a great moment for me and my teammates, of somebody actually putting funds behind, saying that they’re supporting and they want to have our back.”

According to the website Spotrac, which tracks player salaries, the sponsorship is higher than the earnings of six Aces players.

“Definitely more than my salary,” said rookie Kate Martin, who makes $67,249, according to the website. “I’m super thankful. Sometimes I have to pinch myself to make sure I’m not dreaming, but this is very much real life and that is what all these players deserve. I wouldn’t be getting this crazy bonus if it weren’t for how great all of these players have played in the last few years.”

The $100,000 also is a big addition even to what the top players make. A’ja Wilson and Kelsey Plum are the highest-paid Aces at $200,000 each and Gray is right behind at $196,267.

“(For) the LVCVA to see our value and to help close that pay gap, it says a lot about the character of the people that are there,” said Alysha Clark, whose salary is listed at $110,000. “So I’m extremely grateful. I’m honored to be able to represent this organization and this city and be able to put on for the city, give back to this city and pour into the community, and that’s what they did for us. It was really, really special.”

AP Basketball Writer Doug Feinberg and AP freelance writer W.G. Ramirez contributed to this report.

AP WNBA: https://apnews.com/hub/wnba-basketball

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New York Liberty

Indiana Fever

Breanna stewart ruins caitlin clark's home debut by leading liberty past fever 102-66, caitlin clark underwhelms again as fever fall to the liberty.

Caitlin Clark scores nine points as the Indiana Fever fall to the New York Liberty 102-66.

INDIANAPOLIS -- — Indiana Fever rookie Caitlin Clark learned some tough lessons from her first two WNBA tests.

She's struggled with fouls, expectations and, like most rookies, making a smooth transition from college ball to the pro level. And, here, there's no grading curve, as Clark found out Thursday night.

Two-time league MVP Breanna Stewart ruined Clark's regular season home debut by scoring 31 points to lead the New York Liberty to a 102-66 win in front of a sellout crowd of 17,247.

“I think this is how you want everything to be, you want a sellout crowd like this,” Stewart said. “It gives you a little bit of a playoff atmosphere feel because usually in the playoffs, the games are sold out. We might be changing our terminology if we're just going to continue to set the precedent of sellouts home or away."

Clark's presence has changed everything about the women's sport — except the wins and losses for Indiana, which hasn't made the playoffs since 2016 is now 0-2 in the Clark era.

This game was Indianapolis' most anticipated rookie debut since Peyton Manning with the NFL's Indianapolis Colts in 1998, but things didn't go according to plan and.

She picked up three fouls in the first half and a fourth early in the third quarter. When Clark went to the bench early in the second quarter, she took out her frustrations on a towel and at one point after a Fever miscue she flipped the ball over her head to the ref.

Clark finished with nine points, seven rebounds and six assists and showed some progress by finishing with three turnovers — none after the first quarter — and a dramatic improvement over the 10 she had in Tuesday night's season opener. Clark also was 2 of 8 from the field and just 1 of 7 on 3-pointers.

“I have great perspective of on everything and I think the same is true of my college career,” she said before the game. "There were some moments that were absolutely amazing and there were some moments where I was not happy with how I played and how I performed and how my team performed. But that’s just life. That’s just basketball.”

Clark did not speak with reporters after the game though she did two lengthy interview sessions earlier Thursday.

Sabrina Ionescu and Jonquel Jones each scored 14 for New York, which has won eight straight over Indiana. Jones also had 10 rebounds.

Aliyah Boston had a game-high 12 points and seven rebounds, and the Fever came away looking to do more to help Clark.

“People are playing her aggressively and we can do a better job of trying to help her get some space and get free,” Indiana forward Katie Lou Samuelson said. “We want her to keep fighting. We want to keep figuring out the best way to work with her and, like I said, I think we can continue to help her.”

The Liberty didn't just make life difficult for Clark, they made things tough for Indiana.

Stewart helped New York seize control by taking a 25-16 lead after one quarter. And when the Fever cut the deficit to 32-27 midway through the second quarter, Stewart answered with four straight points to spur a 12-0 run that gave the Liberty a 44-27 cushion late in the first half.

Indiana finally responded by closing the third quarter with 12 straight points, the first seven coming courtesy of Clark, to make it 67-56 after three.

But the defending Eastern Conference champs opened the fourth quarter on a 12-0 spurt and cruised to their second straight victory.

MAKING THE TRIP

Indianapolis is quickly becoming a favorite destination for Clark's former teammates and coaches. Ex-Hawkeyes guard Gabbie Marshall showed up and posed for a photo with her longtime friend following Clark's first home preseason game last week.

On Thursday, the entourage included former coach, Lisa Bluder, who announced her retirement Monday, and new Hawkeyes coach, Jan Jensen — Bluder's longtime assistant.

The Fever and Liberty head back to New York on Saturday for a rematch.

AP WNBA: https://apnews.com/hub/wnba-basketball

Regular Season Series

Ny leads 1-0, game information.

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2023-24 Eastern Conference Standings

Stat stories: saturday's standout fantasy wnba performers, stewart helps new york top indiana 91-80 despite strong game from caitlin clark, who scored 22, kahleah copper scores career-high 38 as mercury top dream.

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